Apparatus for treating plastic material



Aug- 27, 1940. 5, DE MAT A 2,212,494

APPARATUS FOR TREATING- PL AS'I' IC MATERIAL I Filed Oct. 9, 1937 -5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY 9 ,d/Mwg W 4 M" "ATTORNEYJA B. DE MATTIA APPARATUS FOR TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL X Aug. 27, 1940.

Fil ed Oct. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIIOR ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1940. B. DE MATTIA APPARATUS FOR TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL I 5 Sheets-Shea 3 Filed Oct. 9, 193

' &NVENTOR ,4 ATTORNEYJ Aug. 27, 1940.

B. DE MATTIA APPAR ATUS FOR vTREATING PLASTIQ MATERIAL Filed Oct. 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 (a INEWNTOR BY WW7} Mac? )a ATTO R N EY5 v Aug. 27, 1940. B.-YDE MATTIA APPARATUS FOR TREATING PLASTIC MATERIAL Filed Oct. 9, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Iumunnmml INVENTOR WM):

TTORNEY/5' M B Y W WWLM ww Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNiTED STATES APPARA US FOR TREATING PLAsTIo A 1 MATERIAL Barthold, De Mattia, Clifton, N. J. Application October 9, 1937, Serial N0. 168,160

, 5 Claims. (01. 18-2) This invention relates to apparatus for treating plastic materials, such as compounded rubber,

between the front and rear rolls and masticated by the squeeze of the rolls as it passes between them. After a few passes, the rubberbecomes sufficiently tacky or plastic to adhere to and form itself upon the front roll in a layer having a thickness determined by the spacing of the rolls, "20 which, in practice, is about three-ei ghths of an inch, although this dimension is by no means critical. After'the roll is entirely coated, there is still an excess of rubber which accumulates in the bite of the rolls and is referred to as the A bank. In order completely to masticate the rubber and mix the ingredients compounded therewith throughout the mass, the layer of rubbeer is partially cut or scraped from the roll and then permitted to be drawn back again into the 0 bank by the portion left intact on'the roll, these operations being repeated over and over again until the batch is of the desired plasticity, mixture and homogeneity. v

In order to carry out the aforesaid operations 135 mechanically, it has been proposed heretofore to provide the apparatus with a scraper which descends into contact with the roll near one end thereof and then moves longitudinally along the roll until a predetermined position is reached,

40 whereupon the scraper is raised outof contact therewith, so as to permit the unscraped portion,

or that part which still adheres to the roll, to draw the portion that has been scraped from the roll back into the bank. These operations are repeated continuously first from one end of. the roll and then from the other until thewentire batch is thoroughly mixed. Apparatus of the aforementioned character is described in the Al len Patent No. 1,932,200. According to the Allen disclosure, the scraper is caused to descend into contact with the rollat a position located near but not at the end of the roll, the first movement of the scraper, aft'er'being brought in contact with the rubber blanket, being toward the nearer end in order to give opportunity for the scraper to penetrate the rubber coating which blankets the roll. This procedure is necessary, sincethe head on which the scraper is mounted moves continuously from one end of the roll to the other and rests at the ends only long enough for-the motor, which effects the longitudinal movement of the scraper, to be reversed in direction. The scraper is carried by a traveling head actuated through a chain drive from a stationary motor mounted at the end of the machine. M 10 According to the present improvements, the head which carries the scraper is mounted on. a carriage on which the motor drive is also mounted, the entire scraper actuating device thus being a self-contained unit mounted entirely within 15 the confines of the side frames of the machine.

The drivingmotor is also of the reversible type, as in the Allen patent, but means are provided .for arresting its operation for a predetermined period at the end of each pass of the scrapenzo across'the roll, in order to allow a suitable interval for the material which has been stripped from the roll to be drawn again into thebank and a new layer formed on the roll The present improvements also provide for the scraper "to .;25 descend into contact with the 'roll at the extreme end thereof, as well as means for maintaining the scraper at the end of the roll for apredetermined period completely to penetrate the rubber blanket and scrape the roll clean at the starting end, :30

and also to accumulate any desired amount of compounded material before the longitudinal cutting-stroke of the scraper is inaugurated. Referring to the drawings: i

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a mixing mill-'35 equipped with the present improvements;

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View Online 3--3 Of Fig. 1; v V 40 Fig. i is a vertical sectional View on line4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged sectional view on line 5--5 ofFig. 4; 1

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of themech-g Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,

there is shown a rubber mixing mill comprising end frames A, in which are journalled a pair of laterally disposed horizontal rolls A and A geared together and driven in opposite directions by suitable driving means (not shown). 'The rubber B to be treated is deposited between the rolls, so as to be drawn down between them and, after a few passes between the rolls, a tacky condition results, which causes a blanket B to form on one of the rolls, in this case, the front one. removed from the roll, it would continue to adhere thereto and pass continuously between the rolls, while the excess or bank B would at the top, vwith little or no mixing.

According to the present invention, the layer of rubber B is scraped from the roll and returned to the bank automatically, the mechanism for this purpose including a scraper blade or knife C (see Fig. l) which is arranged to descend into contact with the front roll A 'at one end thereof, and thereafter moved longitudinally of the roll. The movement of the scraper blade is diagrammatically illustrated in 8, the normal position of the blade being shown in solid lines. line a into contact with the roll, it rernains there for a suitable period to give the scraper blade opportunity to cut into the rubber coating B and engage directly against the roll surface.

Thereupon, automatic means are rendered operative to move the knife longitudinally of the .roll (its path being indicated by the line o until it reaches a predetermined position ering at this end, which extends continuously around the roll, and this portion will pull the part that has been scraped from the roll. back into the bank for further mastication. The blade C remains in this position for a suitable period, which is determined in a manner hereinafter described, whereupon the bladeagain descends along the line a into contact with the. roll, but

this time at the left end thereof. Again the blade is maintained in this position for a suitable period for the reasons hereinbefore state-d, whereupon it is again moved longitudinally of the roll (its path being indicated by the line a but this time in the reverse direction and, before it has traversed the entire distance to the of the roll'from which it started, i. e., when it has reached the position a it is again raised out of contact with the roll and returned to its initial position. The delay period, that is the time during which the blade is at the end of and out of contact with the roll will have been sufficient to allow the rubber coating again to form entirely around the roll, so that there will now be a portion at the original end thereof which extends completely around it, and which in turn will act to draw the portion of therubber coating that has been scraped from the roll during the return movement of the blade back into the bank. These operations are repeated continuously until the rubber has received the desired treatment.

The scraper blade (seeFigs. 1 and 3) isac- Obviously, if the layer of rubber were not After the blade C has descended along the tuated into and out of engagement with the roll through the medium of an air-operated piston and cylinder arrangement C the blade for this purpose being screwed at the'lower end of a cylindrical piston C which is cut away, as at C for the purpose, and which is arranged to reciprocate in a cylinder C formed as part of a large casting C mounted and arranged for longitudinal movement along a pair of spaced horizontal cross members or rails A A supported at their ends in a pair ofupright frame members A mounted at the'top of the supporting frames A in which the rolls A A are journalled. As shown in Fig. 3, the diameter of the piston C is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the cylinder C and, at the top of the piston, there is mounted a packing member or washer C engaging the internal cylindrical wall of the cylinder. A similar packing member C is fixed in the cylinder at its lower end and which engages tightly against the outer cylindrical surthat, as air is introduced into the cylinder above the piston, the latter will descend to effect the engagement of the scraping blade C with the roll A and, as air is introduced into the lower portion of the cylinder below the packing member C", thepiston will be raised to'withdraw the scraper blade out of engagement with the roll.

,Of course, while the piston is descending, prois moved longitudinally along the roll A to insure that the material will be moved forwardly Provision is also made for away from the roll. adjusting the clearance or tolerance between the scraper blade and the roll, when the blade is in its lowermost position. The means forthis fastened by means of a screw and slot connection 0 c to the cylinder C near, the lower end thereof. This shoe has a feather portion extend .face of. the piston. The arrangement is such purpose includes a shoe C (see Figs. 1 and 4) 4 ing into avertical keyway or slot 0 formed in the piston and which, at itsupperend, presents.

a shoulder 0 adapted to bank against the shoe C as the piston descends. Thus, the position of the shoe will determine the lowermost posithe shoe C .against the banking screw is maintained by tightening the screw 0 previously alluded to.

As previously stated, the casting C of which the air cylinder C forms a part, is mounted on v the horizontal rails A A andthe longitudinal movement of the scraper C with respect to the roll A is effected by causing this casting, which in effect is a "carriage, to movelongitudinally along 2,212,494 'these horizontal rails. For this purpose, the

casting or carriage C is equipped with two pairs of horizontally spaced rollers arranged on vertical shafts oijournalled in the casting, and

which bear against the lower horizontal rail A at the front, and also with two horizontally spaced rollers c arranged on horizontal foreand-aft shafts c journalled in the casting, and

'which bear against the horizontal rail A at the top. In another casting C screwed to the main casting at the bottom, there are mounted two rear (see Figs. 3 and 4), so that there is antifriction contact between the carriage and the frame member at all faces of the latter. The carriage is also guided at the top by the horizontal frame member A there being provided for this purpose two anti-friction rollers e imounted on verticalshafts e journalled in lugs 0 formed .on the air cylinder and which bear against the frame member A at the front, and a single anti-friction roller 0 mounted on a vertical shaft c journalled in another casting C secured to the main casting at the top, and which bears against the frame member A at the rear.

The'carriage C is self-propelled through the medium of a motor D mounted onthe carriage and which, through a belt drive D and a worm and'wheel D rotates a verticalshaft D (see Fig. 4) formed at its lower end, with a pinion D arranged to cooperate with a series of rack teeth A formed in the rear face of the horizontal ,framemember A3 along substantially its entire length. The worm and wheel are arranged in a housing D formed in the main casting, the wheel D being fixed on the vertical shaft D which is journalled at the bottom in the casting and at the top in another casting D which forms a cover plate for-the housing and which also carries a platform D on which the motor D is mounted. The worm D is formed on a horizontal shaft D likewise journalled in the main casting, and provided at its left end (see Fig. 1) with a three step pulley D to which the power of the motor is transmitted. The motor is also equipped with a three step pulley D the ar rangement thus providing for three different 'speeds of travel. of the carriage, the motor being cylinder at the bottom for raising the piston through a similar air line B and valve E connected to the same air supply line E supply line E is tapped into a fixed block e as are also a pair of nipples e e leading to the The valve mechavalves are of a standard type and are equipped each with a sleeve E movable to two positions, one, an open position, wherein the associated airline will be connected with the air supply line for supplying air to, the cylinder, and the other, wherein said air line to the cylinder will be closed. In .thislatter or closed position of the sleeve, the valve will act to vent the respective p the atmosphere.

The air end of the cylinder with which it is associated to the atmosphere.

As shown in Fig. 5, the sleeves associated with both valves are yoked together by a pair of bars E so that the sleeves will move in unison, the arrangement being such that,-' when the upper valve is in a condition to connect the upper end of the cylinder with the air supply line E the lower valve will be in condition to vent the lower end of the cylinder to the atmosphere; and. similarly, when the lower valve is in a condition to connect the lower end of the cylinder with the air supply line, the upper valve will be in a condition to vent the upper end of the cylinder to These valves are operated from a solenoid F (see Fig. 4) having an armature F connected by means of a link F at the rear end of a pair of substantially horizontal bars F pivotally connected near theircenters to the bars E yoking the valves E and E together. At their front ends, (Fig. 5) the bars F are connectcd together bya pin F which passes through a vertical bar F pivotally connected at its upper end to the fixed block e. The arrangement is such that, as the solenoid F is energized, the armature will be raised against the tension of a spring F fastened to the bars F and having a fixed anchorage, to lift the bars E thereby connecting the air supply line E with the upper end of the air cylinderand venting the lower end of the air cylinder-to the atmosphere, with the result that the piston C will descend to bring the scraper bade into'engagement with the mill roll A When the solenoidis deenergized, the armature thereof will be allowedto drop, with the result that the bars-F under the action of the spring F will actuatethe valves in a manner to connect the lower end of the air cylinder with the air supply line E and vent the'upper end of the cylinder to the atmosphere, with the result that the piston C will ascend toraise the scraper blade out of engagement' with the roll A As best shown in the circuit diagram (see Fig.

9) the solenoid F is included in a circuit, which can be traced from the main line G, through a lead G a main switch G the solenoidF. and back to the mainline G through a lead G and two paths in parallel, one including a lead G a tiltable mercury switch G and a lead G",

and the other including a switch (not shown) in a timing'device G and "alead' G The timing device itself is connectedito'the main line through a circuit which includes the lead G the timing device, a lead G and a tiltable mercury switch G 2. The timing device arrangement is such that, when the-mercury switch G is tilted to'make an electrical connection therethrough, the timing device "will start 'to operate and, after a predetermined interval as'determined by the setting of said device, will operate the switch therein to make an electrical connection through the solenoid} When. the switch G is tilted in the opposite dir-ection, the circuit therethrough is broken, as is also the circuit through the solenoid that is controlled by'the timing device. The mercury switches. G and G are mounted in a casingC f 'formed at the-top of "the casting C and on a common shaftC journalled in a front wall'ofthe casing. On the shaft C at its front end, there is pinned an arm C (see Fig. 1) connected bymeans of a link C to an arm"C the latter being pivoted to the link'C as well as to the-casting o At the pivot point between -the'link C and the arm C there is provide'diian antiefrictionroller C?.

adapted to engage the upper edge of one or another of a pair of alined bars and C arranged in the opposite ends of a slot 0 formed in the top of the guide rail A According to this arrangement, when the carriage is in a position wherein the anti-friction roller 0 engages the upper edge of either one of said bars 0 C the mercury switches G G will be tilted in one direction; whereas, when the carriage is in a position wherein the anti-friction roller rests upon the upper rail A at some position between the inner ends of said bars, the mercury switches will be tilted in the opposite direction. It will be understood, of course that these mercury switches are so designed that, when they are tilted in one direction, the circuit therethrough will be broken; whereas, when they are tilted in the opposite direction, the circuit therethrough will be closed. Furthermore, the two mercury switches G G are so arranged that, when the circuit through one is closed, the circuit through the other is opened, and vice versa.

The motor D which effects the longitudinal movement of the carriage along the guide rails A and A is of the reversible type and, in the present instance, is shown diagrammatically as being connected to a three phase circuit H (see Fig. 9). The three phase circuit to the motor is controlled by a pair of relays H and H the arrangement being such that, when one relay is energized, the motor will operate in one direction; whereas, when the other relay is energized, the motor will be operated in the reverse direction. Each relay is controlled through a pair of tiltable mercury switches in series, the circuit through the relay H being traceable from the main line G3 through leads Gr and G a mercury switch G a lead G1 a mercury switchG a lead G the relay H and through a common lead G back to the main line G. The circuit through the relay 1-]? can be traced through leads G7 and G a mercury switch G a lead G a mercury switch G, the relay H and through the common lead G back to the main line G.

The mercury switches G and G are mounted 1 (see Fig. 1) in horizontally spaced casings or compartments C in the casting C just below the compartment C in which the switches which control the solenoid are mounted. The switches G G are fixed each to a rotatable shaft C C journalled in the walls of their respective casings, the shafts being provided each with an arm C C having an anti-friction roller at its lower end. The arm C associated with the switch G at the right is adapted to cooperate with a bar C arranged in a slot 0 (Fig. 9) in the top of the upper horizontal rail A at the left end thereof; whereas the arm C associated with the switch G at the left is adapted to cooperate with a bar C mounted in a similar slot 0 at the right end of the rail. These slots C C and consequently the bars 0 C, are offset, so that the bar 0 at the left will not interfere with the arm C associated with the left hand switch when the carriage is in its leftmost position, and so that the bar C at the right will not interfere with the arm C associated with the right hand switch when the carriage is in its rightmost position. Here, again, the arrangement is such that, when the anti-friction rollers associated with the arms C, C engage the top surface proper of the rail A the mercury switches G (3 will be in one condition, as for instance, circuit closing condition; whereas, when said anti-friction rollers engage the upper edges of their respective bars 0 C the switches will be tilted in the opposite direction, wherein the circuits therethrough will be open.

The two other mercury switches G G are mounted on a common shaft J, (see Figs, 5 and g 9) so that they can be tilted each from a, position wherein the circuit therethrough isopened to a position wherein the circuit therethrough is closed, and, here again, thearrangement of these two switches is such that, when the circuit through one switch is made, the circuit through the other switch is broken and vice versa.

The mercury switches G (:1 are tilted from one position to the other under the control of the scraper blade C, i. e., whenthe blade descends into engagement with the roll A at one end thereof, the mercury switches will be tilted in one direction, whereas, when the piston descends into engagement with the roll at the opposite end thereof, the mercury switches will be tiltedin the opposite direction. Themechanism for operating these mercury switches is located in a compartment 0 in the main casting and at the rear of the air cylinder and is separated from the compartment C which houses the air valves and the solenoid by web member C (see Fig. 5). The shaft J on which the mercury switches G G are mounted is journalled in this web. section and,

on said shaft, at the side of the web section op-' posite the mercury switches, there is fixed cross bar J provided with a pair of spaced pins J adapted to cooperate with a cam member or star" wheel J having four high portions J and four intermediate low portions J (see Fig; '7) Formed integrally with the star wheel (see Fig. 6) is an eight-toothed ratchet wheel J, the two comprising a unit, rotatably mounted on the shaft J. The ratchet wheel J 6 is rotated through the medium of a spring-pressed pawl J pivotally mounted on a bar J 8 arranged for vertical move- -ment in guide brackets fixed in the casting (see lever J pivotally mounted atits rear endon the casting C and having its front end overlying the upper edge of the scraper blade C. At its top (see Figs. 5 and 6), the bar J 8 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm J to which there is connected a spring J having anchorage at its lower end in the casting and which tends to urge the bar J downwardly. According to this arrangement, when the scraper blade C descends, the lever J is freed, whereupon the bar J3 will move downwardly under'the action of its associated spring J and, in so doing, will cause the pawl J to rotate the ratchet wheel J and consequently the star wheel J through an angle of 45. Assuming that the star wheel J is in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. '7, the pins J on the bar J fixed to the shaft J will rest one on a high portion and the other on a lowportion thereof. As the star wheel moves through the angle of 45 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. '7, the positions of the pins J will be reversed, that is, the one previously occupying a high portion of the star wheel will now occupy a low portion thereof, whereas that previously occupying a low portion of the star wheel will now occupy a high portion thereof. In other words, the bar J will be swung from the solid line position shown in Fig. 7 to the dotted line position shown therein and, in so doing, will tilt the switches from one angular position to another.

As the scraper blade ascends, it will restore the the action of the springs J This movement of the bar J however, will be an idle one, insofar as the star wheel J is concerned, retrograde movement of the latter being prevented by an additional spring-pressed pawl J cooperating with the ratchet wheel J When the scraper blade again descends at-the other endofthe roll, the star wheel will be similarly rotated through another angle of 45, or back to the solid line position shown in Fig. '7,'in which case the mercury switches will be tilted in the opposite direction back to their original positions;

It will be recalled now that after the scraper blade 0 descends into contact with the roll A there is a delay period before the motor D is energized, in order to give time for the knife to cut through the rubber coating B and accumulate the desired amount of compounded material before the blade is moved longitudinally of the roll. This delay'period is effected by retarding the descent of the bar J which actuates the star wheel J .v The mechanism for this purpose ,is shown in Fig. 6, and includes a cylinder K with a piston K arranged to reciprocate therein, the piston being connected by a rod K with the upper horizontal portion J of the bar J The piston is formed with a hollow central portion K and a duct K communicating at one end with said hollow central portion and at .its other end with the cylinder K below the piston. The piston is also formed with another duct K communicating at one end with said central hollow portion of the piston and at its other end with the cylinder above the piston. Where, this second duct K5 enters the central hollow portion K of the piston there is provided a ball valve K which is normally closed when the parts are at rest. The cylinder is filled with a suitable liquid, as for instance, glycerine, and the portions of the cylinder above and below the piston are connected by a by-pass K in which there is a regulating valve K to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

According to this arrangement, when 'the scraper blade C descends from its upper position to its lower position in contact with the roll A the descent of the bar J under the action of its associated spring J will be delayed, since the valve K in the piston will be closed under the action of the glycerine which consequentlywill be forced to pass from'the' lower side of the piston ment of the bar J is effected positively by the upward movement of the scraper bladeC. Its stroke will not be retarded, since, ,as the piston K moves upwardly, the glyce'rine or liquid will readily pass from the upper side of the piston to the lower side through the ducts K K and the ball valve K which, under these circumstances, will be unseated by the action of the liquid.

With the foregoing description in mind, it is thought that the operation of the device can be readily understood by referringto the circuit diagram illustrated in Fig. 9. But, first, it might be stated that, when the machine is at rest and of the cut-away portion C in the'piston C the'air turned off," the "scraper blade. Cis held upwardly out of contact with the roll A "by a safety device (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4), which includes a pair of arms L, L pivoted one at. each sideof the air cylinder C and a cross bar L connecting thearms and which engages beneath a curved shoulder C presented at the upper end advertent movement of the safety device is prevented by a spring-pressed plunger'L mounted in a cylindrical recess L formed in the casting 1 C and which banks against a fiattenedsurface L presented at the upper end of one of the arms (see Fig. 4). The plunger L is formed with a stem L extending through the rear wall of the recess and which at its rear end is connected to one arm of an angularly-shaped lever L pivotally mounted on the, casting C. On the other arm of the lever, there is mounted the tiltable mercuryfswitch G which, as'shown in Fig. '9, .controls the opening and closing of the circuit through the solenoidF. When the safety device is in its active position, wherein thedescent of the scraper blade is prevented, the mercury switch G is in itsjopened condition.

Assume now that the carriage is in its rightmost position and that the air supply is shut off, sothat the piston for actuating the scraper blade is in a position wherein it is supported by the cross bar L 'of the safety device. Under these circumstances, as shown in Fig. 9, the roller C which controls the position of the switches G and G will rest on the upper edge of the bar C so that the switch G controlling the operation of the timing device G Will be closed, while the'sw'it'ch G controlling the alternate circuit through the solenoid F. will be opened, as will also the main switch G Both circuits' which control the operation of the motor D, 'under these conditions, will be open, the one through the relay H by virtue'of the fact that the switch G in such circuit, controlled by the descent of the scraper blade, is open, although the switch Gem series therewith is closed. The other circuit through the relay II will be open by virtue of the fact that the switch G in such circuit, namely, that controlled by the bar C on the guide rail-A is open,

although the switch G in series therewith and which is controlled by the descent of the scraper' blade is closed.

In order to start the machine,'t'h e'operator first turns on the air pressure.:ar'1d,"since, under the conditions stated, the lower air valve E will be in" a condition to admit air into the lower part of the cylinder, the piston C will be raised'slightly' to its uppermost. position, clear of the bar L of the safety device. The operator then swings the safety device from the solid line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position showntherein, the safety device being provided with a handle L for this purpose. This movement/of the safety device will press the spring-pressed plunger L? rearwardly, and causeit to engage a different'flat" surface L on the safety device, tohold thelatter in its inoperative-position; v This rearwardm ove ment of the spring-'pressed plungerwill also rock the mercury switch G tdthe solid line position shown in Fig. 9. Recalling now that the circuit through the timing device is active, the closing-of the main switch G will complete the j circuit through the solenoid F and, as the solenoidis 'energized, the air valves E -and E will'be operated in th'emanner previously described to efiect the descent ofthe scraper blade After a suitable time intervalfiallowing forithe scraper blade to w in closed, a circuit willbe established through the relay H which will operate to connect the motor D for operation in a direction to move the carriage-toward the left, thus' causing the scraper blade to travel longitudinally of the roll A As the carriage moves to'the left, the roller on the arm C will leave the bar C thereby tilting power is I turned off.

the mercury switch G to its closed position, but this will have no effect, upon the operation of the .motor, since it will be recalled that the'mercury switch G in series therewith was opened when the scraper blade descended. Shortly thereafter, theroller C' determining' the position of the mercury switch G in the timing circuit and the mercury switch G in the solenoid circuit will pass off the bar C 2. When this occurs, the switch G will beopened, but, as the mercury switch G is closed, the circuit conditions through the solenoid will remain asbefore, that is, thesole noid will remain in its energized condition.

' The motor D continues to drive the carriage to the left with the scraper blade in contact with the roll A until the blade reaches the position a (Fig. 8), at which point in the travel of the carriage, the roller 02 rides up upon the bar C at the left, thus causing the mercury switches associated therewith to be tilted back to their original position, wherein the switch G "in the solenoid circuit is opened and the switch G in the timing circuit closed. The timing device now starts to operateandat a later period will again operate the solenoid, but at this instant the sole-- noid circuit is opened, and the solenoid conse-'v quently deenergized, I As the solenoid F is deenergized the air valves E E (seeFig. 4) are actuated to a'position,.wherein air will flow into the lower end of the air cylinder C and be vented from the top end thereof, withthe result that thelscraperblade C, is raised to its uppermost position. The motor continues to drive the car- I riage toward the left until it reaches its leftmost position, whereupon the arm C will cooperate with the bar C at the left, thus tilting the mercury switch G1 to its, open position and'breaking the circuit through the relay H This'stops the motor and brings the carriageto rest in its leftmost position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

. Incidentally, it might be stated at this point that the. motor D is equipped with a breaking device, which will arrest its operation, immediately the It will be recalled that the timing device G8 started to operate when the mercury switch G was tilted as the roller C2 passed up onto the control bar C at the left, This timing device is so adjusted that it will allow the scraper blade to remain inits raised position at the left of the series therewith is open at this time.

pleted.

of switch could be employed if desired.

trol bar C at the left,-closing the mercury switch G but having no effect upon the circuit through the relay H since the mercury switch G in A little further on -in the carriage travel, the roller C rides off its control barat the left, breaking the solenoid circuit through the timing device, but establishing it simultaneously therewith through the mercury switch G so that it continues in its energized condition. When the scraper blade reaches the point a (see Fig. 8), the

rollerC travels up onto the control'bar C at the right to startthe timing device and deenergizethe solenoid circuit, which thereupon causes.

the scraper blade to ascend in the manner hereinb-efore described. As the carriage reaches the end of its travel, the arm C associated with the mercury switch G is actuated by-the control bar C at the right, tilting said switch to open position and breakingthe circuit through the relay H so as to arrest the carriage in its original position. This cycle of operation iscontinued automatically until the mixing operation is com- At this point, it C C and C are bevelled at their inner ends in order to allow the rollers which cooperate therewith readilyto ride up ontothe upper edges of said bars. justabl'e longitudinally in their respective slots in the event it is desired to alter thetime of occurrence inthecycle of the events controlled thereby. I 1 While in the preferred embodiment, the various circuit making and breaking devices have been illustrated as tiltable mercury switches, it

might be stated that bars C 3 Furthermore, these bars are ad' will be understood; of course, that a different type f Indeed,

under certain conditions, as for instance, where there is excessive building-vibration, a different type of switch might be dictated.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be mounted. a carriage supporting frame, means for moving the'scra-per into and "out of. engagement withthe roll, and means including a reversible electric motor for moving the carriage back and forth longitudinally of the roll to effect a corresponding movement of the scraper, said control system including a pair of circuits in parallel, one a controlling the operationof the motor in one direction and the other: the operation of the motor in the reverse direction, and each circuit including a pair of circuit closing devices in series, one circuit closing device in each circuit being operated by the movement of the scraper into engagement with the roll, and the other circuit closing device being operated by devices n the frame and depending upon the position of the carriage, the arrangement of the circuits and the circuit closing devices therein being such that one circuit is closed under the control of the scraper as the latter is moved into engagement with the roll at one end thereof to actuate the carriage in one direction and opened when the carriage approaches the other end of the roll, and the other circuit closed under thecontrol of the scraper as the latter is moved into engagement with the roll at the latter end thereof to actuate the carriage in the reverse direction and opened when the carriage approaches the end of the roll from whence it started.

2; A control system for a plastic material treating mill having a pair of driven mill rolls, a scraper adapted to remove material from one of said rolls, a carriage on which the scraper is mounted, a carriage supporting frame, means for moving the scraper into and out of engagement with the roll, and means including a reversible electric motor for moving the carriage back and forth longitudinally of the roll to effect a corresponding movement of the scraper, said control system including a solenoid circuit operable to control the operation of the scraper moving means in a manner to effect movement of the scraper into engagement with the roll when the carriage is at opposite ends thereof, and out of engagement with the roll when the carriage is at predetermined intermediate position, pair of circuits in parallel, one controlling the operation of the motor in one direction, and the other the operation of the motor in the reverse direction, and each circuit including a pair of circuit closing devices in series, one circuit closing device in each circuit being operated by the movement of the scraper into engagement with the roll, and the other circuit closing device being operated by devices on the frame and depending upon the position of the carriage, the arrangement of the circuits and the circuit closing devices therein being such that one circuit is closed under the control of the scraper as the latter is moved into engagement with the roll at one end thereof to actuate the carriage in one direction and opened when the carriage approaches the other end of the roll, and the other circuit closed under the control of the scraper as the latter is moved into engagement with the roll at the latter end thereof to actuate the carriage in the reverse direction and opened when the carriage approaches the end of the roll from whence it started.

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the circuit closing devices referred to are mercury switches tiltable to opened and closed positions.

i. A mill for treating plastic material including, in combination, a pair of driven mill rolls, a scraper adapted to remove material from one of said rolls and being movable back and forth 1ongitudinally of said roll and into and out of engagement therewith, a movable carriage on which the scraper is mounted, means for moving said carriage to effect the longitudinal movement of the scraper, means for moving the scraper into and out of engagement with the roll, circuit means including a solenoid for controlling the operation of said means, and a safety device for positively holding the scraper out of engagement with the roll when the mill is out of operation, said safety device having in association therewith, a switch connected in the solenoid circuit and which is moved to circuit closing position when the safety device is rendered inoperative and to circuit opening position when the safety device is rendered operative.

5. A control system according to claim 2, wherein the solenoid circuit includes two parallel paths, one path including a circuit opening and closing device controlled by timing the mechanism, and the other path a second circuit opening and closing device controlled according to the position of the carriage, and means operable when the carriage is in one position to close the second circuit device and render the timing mechanism inoperative so as to open the circuit device controlled by the timing mechanism, and said means being operable When the circuit is in another position to open the second mentioned circuit device and render the timing mechanism operative so that the circuit device controlled by the timing mechanism is subsequently closed thereby.

BARTHOLD DE MATTIA. 

